“Among the 24.9 million adults aged 18 or older with SPD [Serious Psychological Distress] in 2006, 10.9 million (44.0 percent) received treatment for a mental health problem in the past year.  Among adults with SPD , 39.0 percent received a prescription medication, 27.2 percent received outpatient treatment, and 3.9 percent received inpatient treatment for a mental health problem in the past year.  Respondents could report more than one type of treatment.”

Keep in mind that this data does not include children and adolescents.

Even more alarming than the unmet need for mental health services is the gross neglect of affordable services for substance abuse:

“In 2006, 23.6 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem (9.6 percent of the persons aged 12 or older). Of these, 2.5 million (1.0 percent of persons aged 12 or older and 10.8 percent of those who needed treatment) received treatment at a specialty facility.  Thus, 21.1 million persons (8.6 percent of the population aged 12 or older) needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive treatment at a specialty substance abuse facility in the past year. These estimates are similar to the estimates for 2005.”